On Monday, Jones announced the hiring of four assistant coaches, including Tim Banks as defensive coordinator.

One thing in common about the new hires, like Jones, is that they all have past ties with Central Michigan University, Heeke said.

"It's always a benefit to have a staff that is familiar with the CMU culture," Heeke said. "Because we know (the new coaches) are truly in their hearts and dedicated to CMU."

Banks, a 1995 Central Michigan graduate and co-captain of the 1994 Mid-American Conference Championship team, spent the past four seasons as a defensive coach at the ?University of Maryland. He also was an assistant coach at the University of Memphis from 2001-2002, and was at Bowling Green from 1999-2000.

"Tim has great ties to Michigan; I coached with him at Ferris State before," Jones said. "It's great to have him here."

According to figures supplied to Central Michigan Life from Bob Martin, associate vice provost for Faculty Personnel Services, Banks will make $112,000 annually.

Jones also announced the hiring of three offensive coaches on Monday. Zach Azzanni will be an assistant head coach and wide receivers coach, while Max Glowacki will coach tight ends.

Don Mahoney has been hired to coach the offensive line.

Mahoney, the only non-CMU graduate of the four hired so far, coached the offensive line at Tulane University the past eight seasons. Prior to that, he was an assistant at Central for six seasons, starting with the '94 season. Mahoney will have a salary of $82,000 per year.

"Dan is one of the best o-line coaches I've ever worked with," Jones said. "He has a great passion for the game and for Central Michigan."

Azzanni spent the past six seasons at BGSU, the past four coaching wide receivers. He was a freshman on the '94 team. Azzanni will make $65,000 per year.

Glowacki was Wayne State's offensive line coach last season. He also was an offensive line coach at Sacramento State from 2004-2005. He was an offensive lineman at CMU and started nine games in '94 as a redshirt freshman.